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WorksheetsTop Ten Reasons Shakespeare Did Not Write Shakespeare
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 3hrs 30mins
(RI. 8) Which statement from the article best reveals the author's central claim (main argument)?
There is no evidence to show that William Shaxper was a writer.
Despite evidence that Shaxper could not have been a writer, few colleges or universities
ever touch on the authorship question.
Mark Twain … points out that no one in England took any notice of the death of the
actor William Shaxper.
There is no way of reconciling the immense scholarship evinced in Shakespeare’s works
with William Shaxper, who from birth was surrounded by illiterate people, had little or no
education, and is believed never to have traveled outside England.
(RI. 8) In paragraph 4 of section 1, which statement is the REASON for the claim that "The lack of any letters written by William Shaxper is particularly significant,"?
As a great writer, it is likely he would have written a large number.
Voltaire’s collected correspondence totals roughly 20,000 pieces.
Shaxper’s, or Shakespeare’s collected correspondence totals exactly zero items.
(RI.1) In section 5 (His Unnoticed Death), what's the strongest piece of evidence to support Mark Twain's claim that the man who wrote Shakespeare's works was NOT the real Shakespeare?
His death made no more stir in England than the death of any other forgotten theatre-actor would have made
Nobody came down from London; there were no lamenting poems, no eulogies, and no national tears.
A striking contrast with what happened when Ben Jonson, and Francis Bacon, and Spenser, and Raleigh and the other distinguished folk of Shakespeare’s time passed from life!
No praiseful voice was lifted for the lost Bard of Avon.”
In Section 6 (Not a Single Book), what's the author's claim?
William Shaxper's will is four pages long and handwritten by an attorney.
In these four pages there is no indication that he was a writer.
The will mentions not a single book, play, poem, or unfinished literary work, or scrap of manuscript of any kind.
The absence of books in the will is telling, since to write his works the mythical William Shakespeare would have had to have access to hundreds of books.
(RI.6) In which section does the author acknowledge an opposing viewpoint (rebuttal) and give his counterargument (evidence against the opposing view)? (Remember...always think what's the central claim the author is making and which section goes against that).
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
(RI.6) What is the author’s purpose in this article?
Describe the life of William Shakespeare
Emphasize how little education William Shakespeare had
Debate who actually wrote William Shakespeare's poems and plays
Describe the life of Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford
(RI.8) In Section 7 (Multilingual) is the reasoning, "There is no way of reconciling the immense scholarship evinced in Shakespeare’s works with William Shaxper, who from birth was surrounded by illiterate people, had little or no education, and is believed never to have traveled outside England" sound?
It is sound because it's based on evidence that shows the different languages used in his plays and even a version of the language that is only used by the common people in that location.
It is sound because it listed many different reasons of why William Shaxper couldn't be the real Shakespeare.
It is NOT sound because it just judges a person based on where he/she is from and not by what he/she can do.
It is NOT sound because it lists facts not supported by evidence.
(RI.8) In section 10 (Stratford), which evidence is irrelevant (doesn't relate or is unneeded) in proving the "fakeness" of the tourist site?
Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most successful tourist sites in England, though only about 10% of its visitors ever attend a play
As with virtually everything associated with the “historical” Shakespeare, the tourist sites in Stratford are pure speculation.
In 1969 the people selling tours of Shakespeare home were sued under England’s Trade Descriptions Act, which forbids false statements and claims in advertising.
No one knows for sure who wrote the works attributed to Shakespeare.
(RI.8) In Section 4 (The Famous Doubters), the author uses the claim, " the case against William Shakespeare’s authorship is strong enough to have attracted many famous individuals" to support the entire article's central claim/argument. What's the REASON this claim supports the central claim/argument?
If many famous people have doubted that Shakespeare is not the real Shakespeare, then the author has reason to doubt to because famous people are usually right.
If one person doubts, it gives the author the evidence to doubt also.
If many famous people have doubted that Shakespeare is not the real Shakespeare, then the author has reason to doubt to because they are authorities.
If famous people do not know who Shakespeare is, then the author should not know either.
(RI.8) Which piece of evidence connect why letter writing supports the argument of Shaxper not being a writer?
Both his parents, John and Mary, were illiterate. His wife Anne Hathaway was illiterate.
His children were illiterate, which would make Shaxper the only prominent writer in history whose children are known to have been illiterate.
No records of this exist and Shaxper made no mention of this school in his will, a startling oversight if this grammar school was single-handedly responsible for creating perhaps the most literate, scholarly man of all time.
As a great writer, it is likely he would have written a large number. Voltaire’s collected correspondence totals roughly 20,000 pieces.
